A “PREDATORY” pensioner who groped two young boys has been locked up indefinitely to protect members of the public.

Adrian Henderson-Thynne, 72, was caught sexually assaulting one boy - and then admitted to other incidents involving another. Both boys, who cannot be identified, were under the age of 13 at the time.

At Teesside Crown Court, he was given an indeterminate sentence for public protection - and was told he must serve a minimum of two-and-a-years before he can be considered for parole.

Judge John Walford told Henderson-Thynne, of Barrington Crescent, in Thorntree, Middlesbrough, he had shown “predatory behaviour towards young boys”. The court heard Henderson-Thynne was caught sexually assaulting one young boy earlier this summer.

Prosecutor Richard Wilson said subsequent investigations found that another young boy claimed he had also been sexually assaulted. He told the court that Henderson-Thynne’s previous convictions dated back to 1962.

Defending, Jonathan Walker, admitted the case was “ugly in all manner of descriptions” and apologised to the victims’ families.

Henderson-Thynne previously pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault of a male child under 13. He was given an indefinite ban from unsupervised contact with under 18s and disqualified from working with children.